Get to Mass on time Some people in the time of Jacob of Serugh were arriving at Mass very late— just before the Eucharist. Jacob warns them that they’re missing something essential: the prayers and healing in the earlier part of the liturgy. But you might be saying, “I will go and do whatever business I have until the consecration, and when they open the doors I will go in and receive.” You who are wise, drive away and put... Read more
Don’t be like Herod! Herod told the Magi he wanted to worship the infant Christ—but really he wanted to kill a potential rival. We do the same, says St. John Chrysostom, if we approach the Eucharist unworthily. But be careful not to be like Herod, and say, “that I too may come and worship him,” but when you have come be planning to murder him. For those who partake of the mysteries unworthily resemble Herod—as it is said, they “will... Read more
This week publisher Tan Books sponsors the CBB giveaway. One lucky winner will receive one copy of the Manual for Spiritual Warfare by Paul Thigpen (you can read my review here). I use Rafflecopter to run my giveaways which makes it simple for you and me! Enter below. The contest starts at midnight tonight EST and will end 12AM EST Fri 1/23 with a winner being announced later that day. Good luck! a Rafflecopter giveaway Read more
Examine your conscience before Mass The Church is a hospital for sinners, we often hear. But sometimes the cure is to go away, repent, and come back. The Church lets everyone in, says St. Cyril of Jerusalem, but you yourself have to judge whether you’re at church for the wrong reasons. We, the ministers of Christ, have let everyone in. We hold the place of doorkeepers (so to speak), but we have left the door wide open. Perhaps you came... Read more
Undoubtedly you have heard mention of spiritual warfare. Perhaps you understand what it is and the implications for it in our time. Perhaps you do not. Either way Paul Thigpen has written a book that guides the reader on what spiritual warfare is and how to take part in the battle. His new book, Manual for Spiritual Warfareis a great resource that I will be turning to often as should you. From the intro: “The primary purpose of this manual, then,... Read more
Avoid the smoke of worldly cares Scripture is the clear air of a meadow or a garden, says St. John Chrysostom. You can see far and plainly. But worldly cares are like smoke that makes your eyes water and dims your sight. Even your bodily eyes are always weeping when they have to be surrounded by smoke. But when they are in clear air—in a meadow, in fountains, and in gardens—they become more acute and more healthy. The soul’s eye... Read more
Take the medicine that costs you nothing The health care you have to pay for is more more easily obtained by the rich than the poor. But Scripture, says St. John Chrysostom, is the medicine that’s free to everyone—and often the poor get even more benefit from it. You cannot get this medicine (Scripture) by paying money for it. But whoever shows a sincere purpose and disposition goes on his way with the whole thing. For this reason, both rich... Read more
Welcome back to “The Clergy Speaks”, a recurring feature here at The Catholic Book Blogger. “The Clergy Speaks” is a column focusing on one question I have asked various members of the clergy. That question is: What five books would you recommend as must-reads for Catholics today? I left the responses open to current or classic books with the only restriction being that the Bible and the Catechism could not be used as they are a given. This week we... Read more
Click the cover image above to purchase this talk as either a CD or MP3 download. Do you struggle with living your faith at work? Is holiness possible? Does being ethical help or hurt the profitability of a business? These are just some of the questions Matthew Kelly answers in this presentation which was made to the Catholic Business and Ethics Conference. Click the cover image above to purchase this talk as either a CD or MP3 download. Dr. Timothy... Read more
Take your examples from Scripture Scripture, St. Basil tells us, gives us an example for every occasion. When we want to learn how to live a good life, we should turn back to the great examples we find in the Bible. Studying inspired Scripture is the most important way of finding out what we should do. There we find both instructions for our conduct and the lives of blessed men, given to us in writing as living examples of godly... Read more
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